Gearing up for the Human Race in Ukiah

Come join the human race -- the Human Race Kick-Off Event, that is. Strap up your shoelaces, get your team members together and be at 413 N. State St. at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 6. It's an opportunity to meet fellow community members participating in this annual event, pick up registration materials, learn how to motivate your team and possibly win some cash that will go toward sponsorship money.

Hors d'oeuvres will be available while teams are given the opportunity to sign up, members will be given packets and past participants will discuss the finer points of marketing and promotion from going door-to-door to using Facebook and other social media to garner contributions.

Tami Bartolomei, program director for Hands On Volunteer Network, explains, "The Hands On Network is a national organization of volunteer centers across the United States. We provide volunteer support for non-profit organizations, recruit and refer volunteers in Lake and Mendocino counties and provide liability insurance. The 163 agencies that fall under our umbrella span the gamut from Plowshares, the Ukiah Senior Center and the county library to the Mendocino County human relations department, the Sheriff's Office, 4-H clubs and churches. We have over 2,300 volunteers in our database and we are always looking for more.

"The need is always there. We just had a call from a senior center in Lake County desperately looking for a driver for their Meals-on-Wheels program. To volunteer you can access our website at www.volunteer.ncoinc.org or call Samantha Bertozzi, volunteer coordinator, directly at 707-467-3230.

"Our membership in the national organization allows us to participate and provide the Human Race Event here in Ukiah. One year I participated in the event in Sonoma County and realized I wanted to get it going here; now we are going into our eighth year and it is such a great thing for our community. We do the organizational work while individuals, people representing non-profits and charities, build their teams and ask for donations. We all have a great time."

Bartozzi adds, "The Human Race provides an opportunity for not only non-profits but also charities, tribes and schools to raise money for their organizations. Teams come in costumes, make their own T-shirts and we give out a wide spectrum of prizes -- centipedes with the most legs, most spirited, largest group of walkers, and top team pledge getter. Last year the top money raiser prize went to Susan Wynd-Novotny, who raised over $2,000 for Manzanita Services, part of the Mendocino Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Health."

This year's Human Race will start at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 4, at Alex Thomas Plaza and the course that includes a legitimate 5-K run will wend its way around the west side, circle Todd Grove Park twice and return to the plaza. A pancake breakfast will be provided free for all team members and for a nominal fee to the public not participating. The minimum sponsorship requirement for an individual or team is $25 and in addition to the fun of engagement everyone will receive a free T-shirt and water bottle.

Bartolomei says, "Some of the runners come in at 20 minutes and some of the walkers take quite a bit longer. Last year as we were tearing down the balloon arch, a 94-year-old man, raising money for the Willits Senior Center, came in aided by his walker at about 11:15, calling out to us to wait so he could have his picture taken with the balloons."

This year they will have a DJ and the possibility of a live band and zumba warm-ups. Everyone is welcome to come and check out the event and if so moved at the time, enter with the sponsorship fee of $25. Donations can also be made on their website.

The two remaining training sessions on March 6 and April 3, both held at 413 N. State St. from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., are geared primarily toward those charities and organizations that are new to the event. Experienced participants are also welcome to participate in these training workshops to learn how to continue to develop sound ideas for fund raising and engage with the rest of the community participants. For those with questions call 707 467-3200 ext. 230.

?A new fundraising idea, restaurant week, will be implemented at a wide spectrum of establishments from high end to fast food during the week of April 21. All participating establishments will pledge a certain portion of their proceeds to their chosen organization during the week and teams will be invited to the restaurant where they can hand out fundraising information to other customers.